It's all in how you say it

I just love when my flogs hit a chord in my loyal readers. Sometimes it really surprises me which postings I will hear about when someone tells me how much they like the flog (sometimes I'm surprised that anyone even reads it). Some popular ones have been the Pantone Colorstrology, my petition for tropical storms to have first AND last names, finger gymnastics and the list goes on and on and on.
Tonight I received a particularly cheerful email from flog reader K.G., who has enjoyed the funny sign photos I've been posting. Luckily for all of us, she shared with me a great sign she came across today. I have no idea where this sign could have been, but this must be some neighborhood. There are so many things going on with this hand-made headache from a spray can that I can't even begin to speak about it without laughing. If you've ever attended one of my workshops on retail window design you've already heard my tyrannical rant about how much I loathe hand-made signs. You can enjoy this one for yourself and take what meaning from it you want. All I can say is that I'm sorry it's nearly 10 pm; that means you've missed the sale. (Thank you, K.G., for letting me share this with everyone!)

Green goes the world

I get questions all the time from clients about how they can be more green in their printing projects. It is a valid question--we all need to do more to ensure that the products we're consuming, creating and producing in mass quantities are as environmentally safe and friendly as they can be. Sometimes, however, when it comes to the printing process (something that few lay folks understand anyway-and why the heck would they?) and the green efforts being made in that field, people don't even know what to ask or what the answers would even mean.

I will take this opportunity to share with you a wonderful resource that explains it all, including details and specifics about the impact of paper production and printing as well as what it means to be an environmentally-friendly printer. If you've ever wondered about what the tree-guzzling printing industry is doing to meet the need, then you must read through the pages at Lovely as a Tree.

Funny Sign #1

Well, I promised you some more funny signs and I am delivering on that promise today. As I have my window open on this beautiful summer day, motorcycles constantly roaring below for Ohio Bike Week, I took a moment to look through some old photos and find some gems for you to kick off the weekend.
Here is the first one I will share and this one is by far my kids' favorite sign malfunction we've seen. Enjoy!

The State of Perfect Balance: from Senators on Pac-Man to kids on roller coasters

While Ohio's own Sen. George Voinovich was standing before a giant poster of Pac-Man and the ghosties to describe the national debt (see the video here), I had the distinct pleasure today to attend a town hall meeting/seminar by the lovely Ohio Department of Tourism. It was a really interesting session, about some new partnerships for tourism industry folks and, the reason I was there, a whole new foray into the social media pond. I was so interested to find out about the new social media angle and the recognition of the importance of the "young transitionals" demographic, that I did not know about the other ground-breaking development I would find out about at the meeting.
There is an amazing new resource, unparalleled by anything I can find offered in other states, for anyone in Ohio with a tourism-based business or those thinking about creating one. The new Ohio Tourism Toolbox is a joint venture among the Ohio Dept. of Tourism, The Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio SeaGrant Program. It includes all kinds of industry-specific resources, tools, business resources, educational opportunities and academic research--all free.
I wanted to make sure I shared this with you as soon as possible because I know there are tons of you out there who can use and really need the information provided by this site. I'm not sure how they're planning to get the word out to the small business owners in Ohio who rely on reaching those precious gems called tourists, but I'd like to do my part. If you'd like to check out the Tourism Toolbox, please click here. If you want to hear about any of the other things being done to keep it fresh for tourism marketing here in Ohio, drop me a line.

When I grow up...

Someday, when I grow up, I'd love to have a swell catering business so I can make my creations for everyone and watch as they enjoy the yummy flavors I've put together. In addition, I'd have beautiful floral creations on every table, created by me, of course. I guess both of those career "aspirations" come from the creativity in my brain. I can't help it.
I had the distinct pleasure to meet someone in my dream job recently. Her beautiful creations, designs, colors and fragrances graced the scenery and set the mood at the "Veils & Cocktails" event I attended at Leonardo's Bridal Boutique in Rocky River, Ohio, a few weeks ago. It was a gorgeous event, and, it had been so long since I had seen so many beautiful bridal gowns, sparkles and lace in one place. Having busy kids means I don't find myself in places like bridal boutiques very often.
I was so glad to sit and catch up with the owner of HeatherLily, floral and event designers in Cleveland. AMAZING is all I can say of her work. I was so jealous and told her so....she wished she could be a graphic designer (no one ever says that and actually MEANS it). It was so fun to discuss our creative perspectives on our jobs, as she had just recently been through a full suite of branding, identity, print and web design pieces for her business. She had an interesting perspective that only those who've been through it from start to finish--the whole she-bang, so to speak--have about designers and the creative process it takes to get where you haven't been before. Very insightful.
Mostly, I was just wishing I could have all those beautiful flowers and accessories in one room so I could put together my own floral masterpiece. Then, when I returned home, I checked out her web site and would HIGHLY suggest you do the same. The photos of her events and locations are absolutely stunning. Make sure you checkout HeatherLily and the portfolio of her productions of beauty.

Ouch, that would hurt

I thought you might want to see our new ad that's coming out. Watch for it in Northwest Ohio!

More reassuring tones

I must begin this flog by telling you I found out this week that one of you has actually attended the annual Duct Tape Festival in Avon, Ohio. Wow, I'm ecstatic! I really wish I had some photos to share with all of you, so, if you attend this year you must really take your camera or camera phone and get some photos to share with all of us. I don't think I will be able to attend that weekend, or I surely would be there.
Now, back on the topic at hand...I have heard from several of you about the interesting logo article in the NY Times. It was insightful and, no, it doesn't mean you should panic and redo that logo you've been using through the tests of time. A full logo/image redesign should be entered with caution and isn't for everyone. Nonetheless, the trends of large corporations to disassociate themselves with the "look" of a big corporation is an interesting thing to note.
It was fitting that after the logo article, I sat down this week to catch up on some design news and have been reading, investigating and thinking a lot about the annual fashion and design color forecast. It is always my favorite time of year to think about color forecasting into the future, but, more importantly, I really like thinking about all the factors that go into the new color scheme and how it comes about. This is definitely a year for less flashy, more toned-down colors and designs. However, we are still in the year of Mimosa, if you'll remember an old flog entry of mine, which is the color of the year for 2009. The warm, encouraging, happy color of yellow to brighten our spirits in 2009. If you'd like to read the 2009 Color Report by Pantone, please click here or on the image above. And I can tell you that I'm a big fan of Warm Olive, Majolica Blue, Iron and Steeple Gray.

In times of trouble, a soft, fuzzy ___ is in order.

If you said "blanket" or "teddy bear" or "Donny Osmond" you'd be incorrect, I'm sorry. Once in a great while there is a mainstream article for the rest of you non-creatives that exhibits a little insight into the secret world of creativity and image promotion. We don't like to give away too much of the mystique, but share just enough so it really looks like there is a plan to all the madness.
Yesterday's New York Times had a terrific article about the latest trend in corporate logos. In times of trouble we want our soft, fuzzy, warm, reassuring and happy logo (that fills in the blank above). Logo designs have gone from CAPS LOCK, bold monstrosities that signified power, power, power, power to the soft, lower case, friendly, rounded, freshened-up cousins we see today. There are many economic and cultural reasons to make the shift to softer, sweeter, kinder logos, which I'm sure even non-creatives can guess about 5 of them. Make sure you click here to read the article and catch the full slide show of logo examples (or stop in the aha office and see the paper copy) including corporate hulks like Wal-Mart (now using the friendly sunburst, no longer the regimented star) and Kraft.

Wordsmiths Local #101 Accepting New Members

So, I pulled the ol' vehicle in for a fill-up in Bellevue, Ohio, yesterday and was greeted to another treat for language-consumed folks like myself. Maybe there is a reason why gas was SO much less expensive here. Clearly there is either a shortage of wordsmiths in marketing/signage design departments, there are no proofreaders left in this world OR there is just a shortage of people who care about language, meaning, redundancy or the like. Unfortunately, I know the answer to that one, I just may not choose to accept it yet.
I'm adding this cause to my growing list that already contains adding last names for tropical storms and saving the art of the hand-written note by purchasing, writing and sending as many note cards as I physically can. Won't you put a little pen ink and brain power to these causes for me?
As a footnote for this...I really LOVE funny business signs and I have several photos I have taken through the years of signs that have nearly caused me to get in an accident when I saw them while driving. I will find some good ones and post them for you. If you have any of your own (unaltered photos only), please send them to me at amy@aha4creative.com with a story about where they are from and I will gladly post them here!